CASE STUDY

ESTO Case Study Saracens RFC

In January 2013, Aviva Premiership side Saracens RFC unveiled their new synthetic turf pitch, marking a breakthrough for professional sport in England as the club became the first professional English rugby union side to play on synthetic turf. The £500,000 pitch was installed at the Allianz Stadium, Saracens’ newly built 10,000-seat ground. Before moving to their new home in 2013, the Premiership rugby side had been based at Vicarage Road since 1997, in a ground share with the Football League Championship’s Watford FC.

Surface developed specifically for rugby union In preparation for reaching this milestone, extensive The decision to opt for a synthetic turf pitch was first consultations took place between the club and the voiced in 2011, when Saracens began implementing International Rugby Board, Rugby Football Union and plans for the re-development of the existing stadium Premiership Rugby, with each organisation advising on as Barnet Copthall leisure complex. the install of the new pitch.

Despite a delay in the planning approval required for The surface has consequently been developed what would become the Allianz Stadium, the synthetic specifically for rugby union, passing rigorous field tests turf surface was installed in time for the club’s first to ensure optimum playing safety and lifespan. fixture at the ground against Cardiff Blues in the LV Cup on 27 January 2013. The new surface then made Making a positive impact history on 16 February 2013, making its debut in the In an interview with Pitchcare magazine, Scott Murphy, Aviva Premiership as Saracens played Exeter Chiefs. Saracens high performance director, confirmed the positive affects he expects the synthetic turf surface to have on his players: “A real benefit of using synthetic technology is that it complies with standards that have player welfare at the forefront. The surface has to meet strict guidelines for things like the Head Impact Criteria so, in many ways, it’s more quantifiable and certainly more consistent than natural turf.

“Saracens are confident that time will show synthetic turf is a safe and reliable surface for professional rugby.”

The new pitch permits a faster pace, with the flow of the game no longer hindered by mud or churned up grass; this has been aided by fewer reset scrums as a result of the turf’s robustness. CASE STUDY

ESTO Case Study Saracens RFC

Consequently, Saracens’ coaching staff have adapted about. It is not only a home for professional rugby and the players’ strength and conditioning programme – a elite athletics but it is a hub for the community. And change that will only benefit the team when they play not just from a sport point of view, also with school their away fixtures on natural grass. activities and educational purposes,” commented Sam Fulling, Saracens’ foundation manager. Overcoming concerns from within the sport The decision to install the surface at Saracen’s new “We want everyone to make use of the facilities. ground was met by reservations from some; how To have this base to bring things back to is pretty would scrums and line-outs play; would players be inspirational. It is quite amazing to see their reaction to susceptible to burns and lesions; will the surface being able to play on the same pitch as our players and withstand the force of the game? it does really open their eyes to what is possible.”

Feedback so far would suggest that such concerns In July 2013, local amateur rugby union side Hendon have been refuted, with positive reports from players RC confirmed the club will be using Saracens’ pitch to and coaches alike. train on once a week throughout the 2013/14 season.

Following one of the first training sessions on the pitch Commenting on the decision, Hendon coach Chris and in an interview with BBC London News, Saracens’ Palmer said: “Most rugby players and coaches would hooker Schalk Brits said, “I’ve been quite impressed recognise the scenario where productive and effective with how soft the surface is; first impressions are training sessions go out of the window because the very good,” whilst fly-half Owen Farrell commented training ground has turned into a bog, and the ability how quick play remained, despite training in adverse to perform even the most simplistic skills has also weather conditions. disappeared into the muddy abyss. A hub for the community “We had the ability to train on the Allianz pitch a few Saracens’ decision to move from Vicarage road was in times last season and the benefits in terms of what we part due to the club’s desire to create a dual purpose could work on and do, coupled with the enjoyment facility capable of supporting both elite sport and that the players got out of these sessions, translated community use. into tangible benefits on the pitch on match days.”

Situated within Barnet Copthall leisure complex, Rugby union is leading the way the Allianz Stadium is next to a swimming pool and The introduction of synthetic turf to senior rugby gymnasium and incorporates an eight-lane running union leagues is a relatively new one but is set to track around the outside of the pitch; synthetic turf only be bolstered by the use of the surface in Aviva was seen as the catalyst for driving wider use of the Premiership fixtures. facilities, as Scott Murphy confirms: “Our aim was to Gosforth RFC became the first senior rugby team in the engage the whole community, and the only way we UK to play its league fixtures on the surface when the could do it was to build artificial.” club moved to Druids Park at the start of the 2007/08 With significantly tougher durability than natural season, with Brighton and Moseley RFC both working grass and able to withstand use in adverse weather with the RFU, Football Association and Football conditions, the new pitch is already contributing to one Foundation on successful joint funding bids for new of the club’s primary objectives: “From a community dual sport training facilities. perspective, Allianz Park stands for what we are all CASE STUDY

ESTO Case Study Saracens RFC

Maidenhead RFC, a National League 3 South West which is currently being replaced several times a year team started the 2012/13 season playing on a synthetic to combat such problems. At the time of the install surface. at Allianz Park, Roger Lewis, group CEO of WRU and Millennium Stadium said: “We will study this very With momentum building, only strengthened by the carefully because we will only do it if it’s right for rugby; reported success of the synthetic surface at Allianz if we can achieve it, it will save the Welsh Rugby Union Stadium, RaboDirect Pro12 side Cardiff Blues look set millions of pounds.” to follow in Saracens’ footsteps. The club announced in May 2013 that they are the process of seeking The number of advocates for synthetic turf in rugby permission from the Welsh Rugby Union to replace union is rising; Saracens’ decision to play on synthetic the natural turf at Cardiff Arms Park with a synthetic turf sparked significant media interest and exposure surface, following criticism of the existing pitch since and the positive reviews from both players and the side returned to the stadium in 2012. coaches will only provide further support for the surface amongst the sport. Wales’ national ground, the Millennium Stadium, has also become infamous for its problematic surface,